New Zealand’s gaming sector has seen a substantial rise in the past year.
Gaming is a hugely profitable industry in New Zealand. The country is at the forefront of new developments across the global gaming landscape.
This is a global industry that is now worth more than the film and music industries combined.
Over the last 12 months, the NZ gambling industry has recorded a jump in profits of $121 million.
The figures from the New Zealand Game Developer Association show a 42% annual growth. A $324 million revenue was recorded across 2020.
It is clear then that more people are enjoying gaming in New Zealand.
In the last year, we have witnessed gaming as a prime outlet for entertainment. As games continue to advance and develop, their appeal takes in ever greater numbers.
New Zealand companies are a big part of this; continuing to ensure the latest tech advances along with creative ideas for the next hit.
Why are more New Zealanders gaming?
A substantial reason for the rise of gaming in NZ is down to the uncertainly of the last year or so. Lockdowns led to more time spent at home and a greater need for gaming entertainment. Gaming is a fantastic alleviator of stress and worry, and the best games can offer a release from present concerns.
The rise of mobile gaming is another important reason why more people are gaming. The flexibility of mobile tech and better security has meant that New Zealanders can play whenever and wherever they want.
This has led to a revaluation of gaming as a cultural highlight. In the old days, gamers were seen as computer experts and IT nerds.
These days, everyone is a gamer. Indeed, the casual gamer is now much of a factor in the industry than in previous years. Players can play a game however they want, without the need to become a hardcore gamer or obsessive.
Popular Games in NZ
The most popular games in New Zealand in recent years include blockbuster sport hits such as FIFA 20 and NBA2K20.
Games with an advanced online element have also been extremely successful.
Titles like Minecraft, Animal Crossing and Mario Kart have options for multi play across the internet. This possibility has opened up gaming still further and brought new gamers onboard.
Online Gambling in New Zealand
Indeed, a large part of the growth in participation and in profits has been in the online gaming market.
Online gaming recorded a huge growth in profits over the last year. This has also been mirrored in the online gambling industry in New Zealand.
Much as how gaming has grown in the last year, online casinos and gambling sites have also risen.
There are some good reasons for this change in the popularity. Just as gaming has become more appealing to the casual gamer, the same is true for gambling.
Whereas gambling in casinos has not always had the best of reputations, that image is shifting. The latest technology is a large part of this.
The security and convenience of the latest mobile technology has seen more people gaming in online casinos. The latest technology has seen much more confidence in how accounts are handled and protected.
The new players on online casinos can access funds and wins much easier than in the past. Often, they can access attractive deals and welcome packs for signing up for play with an online casino.
This has seen more of the casual gamers drawn to the latest tech of online casinos. Casual gamers prefer a quick and easily accessible game which makes a game of pokies the perfect casino game.
Pokies is a popular game in New Zealand and Australia and is well-known for having a variety of themes and styles of play to choose from. The game is easy to enjoy and does not require a lot of time to get used to playing. Convenient games like pokies have contributed to the growth of the gambling industry in New Zealand as more casual gamers have opted for this game rather than classic table casino games.
The Future of Gaming in New Zealand
As life begins to get back to some kind of normality post-pandemic, many changes that have happened will remain. One of these changes looks to be the popularity of online gaming.
Mobile gaming fans will be able to continue to play on their devices on their way to work.
It could also be that many workplaces continue to have remote working in place for some time.
Players will still be able to access their games during breaks.
Another sure thing looks to be the success of the gaming industry in general. The whole picture of gaming in New Zealand and across the world has shifted.
The figures speak for themselves. Two-thirds of Kiwis play video games, and the average gamer is aged 34. Gamers are almost equally made up of both men and women.
This is a shift that has been in process for many years and is now starting to become crystal clear. The truth is there for all to see. Gaming is a huge market in New Zealand and the entire world.